Forced-draft ventilator for toilet bowls



Dec. 13, 1955 Filed Nov. 24, 1951 A. B. SMITH ET AL 2,726,405

FORCED-DRAFT VENTILATOR FOR TOILET BOWLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l /8 25a 2 I i 22 I00 Ii- Ismaentor AUSTIN B. SMITH MACK B. SMITH Dec. 13, 1955 A. B. SMITH ETAL 2,726,405

FORCED-DRAFT VENTILATOR FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Nov. 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mentor 3n AUSTIN B. SMITH ITH MACK B. SM

United States Patent FORCED-DRAFT VENTILATOR FOR TOILET BOWLS Austin B. Smith and Mack B. Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah Application November 24, 1951, Serial No. 258,032

Claims. (Cl. 4213) This invention relates to apparatus for ventilating toilet bowls, and particularly to forced-draft ventilating apparatus for the purpose.

Various special constructions of toilet bowls and flush tanks and various ventilating apparatus for use in connection with same have been heretofore developed for the purpose of removing odors incident to use of sanitary equipment of this character. None of these developments has achieved any degree of commercial success, however, due largely to such objectionable factors as complicated and expensive construction, gurgling noises during the flushing period, difliculty and expense of installation, and space consuming bulk.

Our invention has for a primary object the effective elimination of odors during each and every use of the equipment, by means of an exceptionally compact ventilation device of simple and relatively inexpensive construction which attaches directly to any toilet seat and cover in connection with the hinge mounting thereof.

In accordance with our invention, there is no connection between the ventilation equipment and the flush tank, and no duct extends into the bowl proper. Thus, there is no possibility of any back-syphonage effect with use of our device. Furthermore, there is no possibility of interference with the flushing action, nor of causing unpleasant noises by reason of conflict between withdrawn air and inflowing flush water. Because of the manner of mounting our device, its mechanism is always directly available for any repairs which may become necessary over the course of time. Ease of installation is an outstanding feature, as is also the ready adaptability of the device to practically any type of toilet, old or new.

An outstanding structural feature of the invention resides in the provision, in compact operating arrangement, of an electrically driven fan and a control switch therefor, the switch being operable by reason of pressure exerted on and consequent depression of the seat during use of the toilet.

The control switch is protectively housed within a tubular casing, which forms part of the hinge mount attaching the customary toilet seat and cover to the toilet bowl.

We prefer to utilize a small, mechanically actuated switch, such as the Micro Switch being currently manufactured and sold by First Industrial Corporation under its Catalogue No. 1SM1. A switch of this type is provided by us with special actuating means for the purposes of the invention, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

While a mechanically actuated switch of the above type is preferred, it is possible and sometimes advantageous to utilize a switch of the well-known Mercoid type, wherein spaced electric terminals are positioned within a capsule containing a mobile body of mercury responsive to change in inclination or slope of the capsule and serving as the movable contact of the switch.

Whichever type of switch is used, however, actuation thereof is effected by depression of the toilet seat from a predetermined and normally maintained position raised slightly above the seating level assumed during use of the 2,726,405 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 'ice equipment by reason of the weight of the user. In either instance, the switch is protectively housed within a compact casing which embodies a suction conduit and therewith communicating vent orifice open to the interior of the toilet bowl. Furthermore, in either instance, a part of the casing is fixed to a hinge element of the toilet seat, and is movable with said seat relative to other parts of the casing. It is the movement of such casing part which actuates the switch, and so sets into operation an electrically driven fan unit at the commencement of each seated use of the toilet. Resilient means are provided for automatically returning the seat to its normal slightly raised position following each such use of the toilet, thereby automatically tripping the switch to off position.

In accordance with the invention, the fan and the electric'motor which drives it are compactly housed within the same tubular casing which contains the control switch and provides the suction conduit and intake vent, and which serves as the hinge mounting for the toilet seat and cover.

Thus, it can be seen that a principal object of the present invention is to provide a very compact forced-draft ventilator for toilet bowls, whose operation is automatically started and stopped at the commencement and termination, respectively, of each seated use of the toilet.

Additional objects are to provide the above in a construction which is easily installed on existing toilet bowls and in connection with existing toilet seats and covers, which requires little or not attention or repairs over long periods of use, which is economical to manufacture and install, and which is positive and highly effective in operation.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the particular preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings to typify the structural relationships generic to the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of a conventional toilet bowl, equipped with a conventional seat and cover hingedly mounted by means of one form of the device of the invention which utilizes a mechanically actuated switch;

Fig. 2, a vertical section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, lower portions of the bowl being broken away, and the parts being shown in the positions normally maintained when the toilet is not in use;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the control switch in top plan, the seat cover removed, and part of the seat broken away to reveal its hinge fastening;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the control switch in vside elevation; 1

Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3, showing in detail the adjustable bolt anchorage of hinge mount to bowl;

Fig. 6, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2, but with.

Fig, 9, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 4, but of the embodiment of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 7, but of the embodiment of Fig. 8. '1

Referring to the drawings: 7' The apparatus of the invention is adapted for application to practically any type and make of toilet bowl, that which is here illustratedand indicated 10-being typical.

toiletseat and cover combination, the seat 11 and cover- 12 being typical.

Our device takes the place of the customary hinge mounting for the toilet seat and cover, and, if applied to a conventional seat and cover combination, is attached thereto following removal of the conventional hinge mounting.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 through 7, the device of the invention comprises a stationary tubular element 13, which, in effect, forms a hinge pintle, about which, as an axis, the seat 11 and cover 12 swing.

Such tubular pintle 13 provides the central portion of the protective casing of the device, and includes a stationary transverse wall 14 upon which an electrical control switch 15 is fixedly mounted. It also provides an exhaust passage 16 and an intake vent 17 leading into the exhaust passage 16 from open communication with the interior of the toilet bowl, at the upper rear thereof, see especially Fig. 2.

The protective casing is completed by end sections 18 and 19, respectively, which are screwed onto and serve to cap and close the otherwise open ends of the tubular central section or pintle 13. The section 18 is strictly a removable end cap, alfording convenient access to the control switch and associated mechanism following assembly of the device, but the section 19 serves as a housing for an electric motor 20 and suction fan 21, and provides a continuation 161 of the exhaust passage 16 to a discharge into an outlet duct 22 which leads to the exterior of the building or to a suitable vent stack (not shown).

Both of the sections 13 and 19 are arranged for secure attachment directly to the toilet bowl by means of respective bolts passing through the customary bolt holes provided in the rearward extension, see 10a, of the rim of the toilet bowl. For this purpose and for rendering the apparatus of the invention readily adaptable to any standard toilet bowl, regardless of variations in spacing of the attachment bolt holes, attachment means in the form of re-entrant slideways 23 are provided at the bottoms of the respective sections 18 and 19, preferably by casting integrally with the walls of such sections. These slideways 23 are open at the inner ends of the respective sections, so as to receive the heads of respective attachment bolts 24. It can thus be seen that the attachment bolts may be posi tioned as required by any particular placement of the respective receiving holes in the toilet bowl.

The toilet seat 11 is hingedly connected to the tubular casing element or pintle 13 for up and down swinging movement relative to the toilet bowl 10 by means of hinge members 25 and 26, which are attached to the underside of the seat in conventional fashion, as by means of screws 27, and which have ring portions 25a and 26a, respectively snugly encircling the pintle 13 for free rotation relative thereto.

For making possible desired automatic actuation of the control switch 15, the tubular casing element or pintle 13 is provided with an elongate circumferential slot 23, extending in correlated placement with the control switch 15. An actuating element 29 projects inwardly of the ring 25a, and passes through the slot 28, the latter being of suflicient length to accommodate such element 29 over the entire are through which the toilet seat can swing. It will be noted that the ring portion 250 of the hinge member closes the full length of the slot 28 at all positions of the toilet seat.

The control switch 15 is shown as being of the type commercially available under the trade-mark Micro Switch, as referred to hereinbefore, and is constructed for closing an electrical circuit when a control button or movable switch contact 30 is pushed inwardly and for breaking such circuit when the control button is forced outwardly by resilient means (not illustrated) forming a component part of the switch. The switch is advantageously secured in proper operative position by means of screws 31 anchoring it tightly against the internal casing wall 14, and, as so anchored, is heldstationary relative to movement of the toilet seat.

In order to insure positive actuation and release of the switch control button 30 in response to down and up movement of the toilet seat, we interpose a resilient lever 32 between the actuating element 29 and the button 30. As illustrated, such lever 32 is fulcrumed at one end to a clip member 33, which fits over the switch 15 and is secured thereto by the screws 31.

The actuating element 29 is advantageously a set screw threaded through the ring member 25a, so that a screw driver may be used to adjust its extent of projection into the interior of the pintle 13. Thus, the arrangement can be adjusted to close the control switch 15, and thereby initiate the ventilating action of suction fan 21, upon depression of the seat during each seating use of the toilet.

Electrical wiring 34 establishes an electrical circuit between the control switch 15 and the motor 20. In so doing, it conveniently passes through a conduit 35, which affords protected passage through the interior casing wall 14 and through the exhaust passage 16 and 161.

In order to automatically return seat 11 to its normally maintained level slightly raised above the seating level, when the toilet is not in use, a spring 36, protectively housed within a thimble 37, is provided at some suitable location about the circumferential extent of the seat preferably at the front, as illustrated. The thimble 37 is floatingly mounted in a retaining plate 38, which is secured to the underside of the seat, being accommodated by a recess 39 provided for that purpose. Thus, the spring 36 reacts between the seat 11 and the rim of the toilet bowl 10.

The seat cover 12 is hingedly secured to the pintle 13 by means of respective hinge elements 40, for up and down swinging movement in conventional fashion.

In operation, the seat 11 is depressed under the weight of a user, thereby causing actuating element 29 to press downwardly against the spring lever 32, which, in turn, presses control button 30 inwardly of the switch 15 to close the electrical circuit supplying motor 20 with power. The motor will immediately rotate suction fan 21, thereby exhausting air from the interior of the toilet bowl through vent 17, exhaust passage 16 and 16-1 and outlet duct 22. This operation will continue until the seat 11 is automatically raised by spring 36 to the normal out-of-use level.

In some instances, it has been found desirable to utilize a mercury arc type of control switch, whereby the control is effected by change in position of a body of mercury which forms the movable contact of the switch.

Such an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 through 10. In this embodiment, a tubular casing or pintle element 50, substantially similar to the casing element or pintle 13 of the previously described embodiment, serves to protectively house a mercury arc control switch 51.

The tubular casing element has screwed to opposite ends thereof casing end sections 52 and 53, respectively, which are tightly fastened to the toilet bowl, preferably by adjustably positioned bolts similar to those previously escribed.

The control switch 51 is mounted in fixed position on a movable bracket arm 54, which extends rigidly from fixed attachment to the ring member 55a of a seat hinge element 55 corresponding to the element 25 of the previously described embodiment. A bracket clip assembly 56 secures the switch 51, as well as the wiring conduit 57, to the arm 54, and the latter extends into the casing 50 through an arcuate slot 58 comprehending an appropriate segment of the circumference of casing 50 to afford required up and down swinging movement of the seat, as in the case of the set screw 29 of the previous embodiment.

As is standard construction, the mercury arc switch 51 is made up of a capsule, having spaced electric terminals mounted at one end thereof, and containing a mobile body of mercury which established electrical contact between the terminals when the capsule is inclined in one direction, and which breaks such contact when the capsule is inclined in the opposite direction. Such switch is proportioned and positioned so as to break the electrical circuit powering the fan motor when the seat is in the normally maintained position slightly raised above the seated use position, and to close such electrical circuit when the seat is in the seated use position, it being noted that bracket arm 54 moves control switch 51 exactly in accordance with movement of the toilet seat. There is enough play in wiring conduit 57 and its mounting to permit such movement.

Except as above set forth, this embodiment is, as illustrated, structurally and functionally identical with that first described.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred specific forms thereof, it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which here follow.

We claim:

1. In a forced-draft ventilator for toilet bowls, which includes a tubular casing forming part of the hinge mount assembly between a toilet bowl and the seat therefor, said casing having defined therein an exhaust passage leading from an intake vent to a discharge outlet, the said intake vent being directed toward the interior of said toilet bowl; an electrically powered motor and suction fan unit operably positioned for creating suction through said intake vent and exhaust through said outlet; and an electrical control switch for said motor, said switch being protectively housed within said tubular casing; the combination of means for anchoring said tubular casing in fixed position as a hinge pintle; hinge members journaled on said tubular casing and adapted for securement to a toilet seat for articulatively attaching the latter to said tubular casing; an elongate circumferential slot in said tubular casing comprehended and closed by one of said hinge members; and switch-actuating means secured to said one hinge member and extending through said slot into the vicinity of said switch, said slot being sufliciently long to permit normal swinging movement of the toilet seat with the said switch-actuating means secured thereto.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the control switch is secured in fixed position within said casing, and includes movable contact means disposed in the vicinity of the circumferential slot in the casing and in operative alignment with the switch-actuating means.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein the movable contact means of the switch includes a movable contact element, and a resilient lever interposed between said contact element and the switch-actuating means, said switch-actuating means being a trip element, which extends rigidly from the hinge member for tripping said resilient lever, and which is adjustably mounted for vary,

ing the extent of the projection through the slot.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the actuating means for the switch comprises a bracket arm projecting into the tubular casing, for movement circumferentially thereof; and the control switch is of mercury arc type, fixedly mounted on said bracket arm.

5. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein a wall is provided within the tubular casing, partitioning off the section thereof in which the switch is disposed, from the suction conduit portion thereof, the said switch being attached to the said partition wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,453,106 Hain Apr. 24, 1923 1,666,465 Norris Apr. 17, 1928 1,831,257 Norris et al Nov. 10, 1931 2,079,733 Cummings May 11, 1937 2,086,211 Campbell July 6, 1937 2,214,200 Lowther Sept. 10, 1940 2,216,008 Heuhacker Sept. 24, 1940 2,231,161 Hanford Feb. 11, 1941 2,286,555 Long June 16, 1942 2,320,065 Briscoe et a1 May 25, 1943 

